Florida accident results in death of a bicyclist

A 46-year-old bicycle rider was killed during a nighttime accident in the Southside area of Jacksonville. According to law enforcement officials, the incident occurred on the southbound side of St. Johns Bluff Road near the Interstate 295 overpass. The male bicyclist and a female companion were riding their bikes on the paved apron next to the traffic lanes when a GMC truck swerved out of its lane and hit the man from the rear.

Police claim that the truck was apparently traveling too fast to avoid hitting the bicyclist, although the driver was apparently wearing his seatbelt. The female rider was not injured in this pedestrian accident. It is unclear whether the dead rider was wearing a proper bike helmet at the time of the accident.

The police report for this accident did not specify whether any charges would be brought against the driver, a 32-year-old man from Jacksonville. The Highway Patrol is still investigating the circumstances that led up to the killing. His survivors may use the results of the investigation to seek financial compensation.

Although auto accidents are already severe, those that involve cyclists and pedestrians in intersections or crosswalks can be even worse. The force with which vehicles strike human bodies can cause immense injuries or death, and the survivors may suffer financial losses as well as severe mental trauma and feelings of bereavement. Although cases like this clearly seem to indicate that the driver was at fault, most victims seek legal counsel in order to build their cases and clearly establish wrongdoing.